After you prune your fruit trees, you can also propagate them through grafting. In this article you will learn how to prune and refine your fruit trees.
When it comes to pruning fruit trees, there are specific methods and techniques that you should know well so that the process is carried out correctly. Grafting fruit trees is also a specific task and requires certain knowledge. Read on as we explain everything you need to know about pruning and grafting fruit trees.
Benefits of summer tree pruning
Summer pruning is best done in August-September when most branches have formed a terminal bud. Pruning your fruit trees in the summer accomplishes a few important goals:
Summer pruning plays an important role in theRemoval of dead, damaged and diseased branches. This will encourage you tovigorous growth of trees. Pruning preserves the treesmore light, which can promote development. More light and air circulation through pruning promotes the overall health of the tree. And proper pruning can cause mature trees toTo produce fruits of better quality and size. AlsoDiseases are avoided through summer pruningif you prune in dry weather, as pruning trees in the rain can promote fungal diseases. In summer, remove branches and fruits that are affected by mites or aphids. This will promote the health and longevity of the tree.
Pruning fruit trees in summer: tips for summer pruning
Note that when actively growing, the branch tips have a vegetative bud that continues to produce leaves and elongate. You will see new leaves forming at the tip of a branch. When a branch has stopped growing for the season, it sets a thick terminal bud and will not grow again that year. It has physiologically shut down for the season and pruning does not stimulate growth. When actively growing, annual side shoots will have at least three feet of new growth and will crack audibly when broken at the base.
How you can cut the tree crown
- The crown thinningis the most commonly performed pruning on mature trees. Crown thinning involves removing certain living branches to reduce the overall density of the tree. This pruning promotes sunlight and air circulation and reduces stress on the branches from gravity, wind, ice or snow.
- The crown reductionis a tree pruning method used on older, more mature trees. This strengthens a tree and promotes new growth. How does this technology work? During crown reduction, a branch is cut back to a growing side branch and in the new season this side branch becomes part of the new tree crown.
Cutting and refining fruit trees
As mentioned earlier, you can graft the fruit trees after pruning them. How do you refine a fruit tree? Here we explain in detail how you can carry out the grafting and propagate your trees in a simple way. And when to graft fruit trees? The trees are usually grafted in early spring before the sap emerges, but can also be grafted in the fall.
Fruit tree grafting is used for two main reasons:Most fruit treesdo not arise from seeds and cuttings do not root easily. The technique of grafting is usually simple and is used to combine a piece of vegetative wood of a tree that we want to propagate with a support. Grafting allows you to create trees with multiple varieties or introduce new varieties to your home garden.
What should be taken into account when grafting?
How do you graft trees? You have to consider that you can almost always only refine within one species. Most apple varieties are compatible with each other, as are most pear varieties. But you can't graft an apple vine onto a pear rootstock or vice versa.
- The choice of support is crucial. There are different rootstocks in terms of tree size, hardiness, resistance to certain insects and diseases, and suitability for different soil types with different drainage.Seedling rootstocksproduce large trees that are very difficult to prune and protect against pests, so such rootstocks are not recommended for home gardens.These trees canHowever, it can be useful for planting in wildlife.Dwarf rootstocksFor orchards produce trees with a height of approximately 4.5 m and a lateral distance of 4.5 m. Fruit formation usually begins in the fifth year after planting.
- Which scion wood to choose?The scion wood should be straight and smooth and about the thickness of a pencil. Water saplings that grow upright in the middle of the treetops are very suitable.
- How do you prepare the scion wood?Cut the wood up to 45cm long and place it in a food-safe plastic bag. Note that the wood must be kept evenly moist. Place a damp paper towel in the bag to retain moisture, seal, and place in the refrigerator until ready to finish.
Use the technique of whip and tongue refinement
A common technique for finishing is whip and tongue finishing. Using this technique, multiple varieties can be grafted into a fruit tree you already have in the garden. This technique involves joining wood of the same diameter together (usually pencil thickness). Grafting fruit trees is carried out near the ends of the branches.
Tools and steps for finishing
For this finish you will need a sharp knife and adhesive tape to seal the finish. The first cut is a smooth cut made with a single stroke of the knife. You should make this cut on the rootstock a few centimeters above the upper root. The same cut is made on the underside of the scion. It's a little more difficult to make. Start at a point about 1/8 inch from the tip of the cutting surface and cut into the center of the rootstock. This cut should be almost parallel to the grain of the wood and the underside of the scion should be prepared in the same way as the top of the rootstock.
After preparing the parts, press the two parts together firmly to ensure good contact. Then wrap the finishing area with tape or masking tape to protect the fabric. Plant the trees so that the grafting site is a few inches above the ground. When the scion takes root, a large tree will emerge.
Cleft grafting is a simple method of grafting
Grafting fruit trees can be carried out by cleft grafting. This is a simple technique that involves creating a connection between a large stem of rootstock and a much smaller scion. You can use this method if you want to refine an older tree.
How to carry out the gap finishing
First you need to prepare the old tree. Cut it at a suitable height, usually about 2 feet (0.7 m) from the ground. Using a hammer or a finishing toola crack in the woodbeaten. This gap is then held open with the end of the finishing tool or a screwdriver.
Once you are finished with the grafting material,take two scionsmade from pencil-thick, one-year-old pieces of wood about six to eight centimeters long. Prepare the bottom of each scion by making a simple, smooth, angled cut on each side.
Place the scions in the prepared column, one on each side. It is important to note that the bark of the trunk is much thicker than that of the scion. Please note that the grafting compound must cover all cut surfaces of the trunk and scion. Also make sure that the gap is completely covered, including on the side of the trunk.
These grafts will be brittle for several years, so good training is important.By wrapping the two successfully refined scions togethera very strong structure is created.
